NCR Staff

Your thoughts: In two recent opinion pieces at NCR, the political aspects of the abortion debate were discussed, asking for a change in how we talk about abortion and pointing out how both sides are falling short.

Pope's quotes: "The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God's gifts."

The climate activist delivered a stern warning: "Our house is still on fire."

Your thoughts: As the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump gets underway, it's a good time to remind NCR readers that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was chosen as our 2019 Newsmaker of the Year. 

Pope's quotes: "To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what He has done for us: this is important! So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying 'thank you'?"

Your thoughts: Two recent NCR Connections columns by executive editor Tom Roberts highlighted thoughts on the culture of clericalism by a Jesuit priest and a former Dominican priest.

Pope's quotes: "Praying the rosary does not remove us from the problems of life. On the contrary, it demands that we immerse ourselves in the history of each day, so as to grasp the signs of Christ’s presence in our midst."

Your thoughts: In case you missed it, NCR picked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as its 2019 Newsmaker of the Year. 

Pope's quotes: "The prayer of the rosary is, in many ways, the synthesis of the history of God's mercy, which becomes a history of salvation for all who let themselves be shaped by grace."

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of November 2019

Pope's quotes: "If the outbound journey is letting my heart be wounded by the suffering of others, the trip through my heart is recognising my sin, my suffering, my lowliness and feeling I have been forgiven and have received the Lord's mercy, then the return journey begins, from the heart to the hands."

Your thoughts: Last week, NCR posted a piece by Don Clemmer on the role of eulogies at Catholic funerals in the Chicago Archdiocese. The revised guidelines were released by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich in November. 

Pope's quotes: "Some of you might ask me, 'Father, how does one feel mercy and not pity?' Well, first we need to ask for the grace to have mercy."

Your thoughts: Last month, NCR published reader responses to two opinion pieces on Latin Mass. More readers wrote in after this first batch appeared.

Pope's quotes: "Mercy is that outbound trip of misery to my heart, borne by my heart, that moves my heart and that, at times, moves it to the point that the heart becomes like a compass at the North Pole, that is unable to stop, for what it feels."

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of October 2019.

Pope's quotes: "The mission of the pastors is to help the flock entrusted to them, that it be always out-going, on the move to proclaim the joy of the Gospel; not closed in tight circles, in ecclesial 'microclimates' which would take us back to the days of clouds and thick darkness."

Pope's quotes: "Thus, while reminding us of the will of the Lord to gather the flock and go in search of the lost sheep, the staff also seems to show us the central content of the love of God in Jesus crucified and risen, the Lamb sacrificed and living."

Your thoughts: National Catholic Reporter followed the U.S. bishops' conference fall assembly closely as usual, with national correspondent Heidi Schlumpf and columnist Michael Sean Winters representing our publication in Baltimore. 

Pope's quotes: "It is a great vocation, that of working as instruments of communion always and everywhere. This means promoting at the same time the unity of the Christian family and the unity of the human family."